Research areas and structure

Academic staff have a strong record of research and publication within all the main subfields of politics, including:

• British politics: constitutional and parliamentary reform; devolution; electoral participation; alternative electoral systems.
• Comparative politics and government: democratisation; the politics of ethnicity; political campaigns and electoral behaviour; comparative urban, rural, and local politics; public opinion.
• EU politics and public policy: decision-making and institutions; regulation and delegation; lobbying; constitutionalism; citizenship and democracy.
• Human rights: human rights and globalisation; theories of human rights and justice; adjudication and interpretation; democracy, religion and human rights; global poverty and human rights; militias, non-state actors.
• International relations: international peace and security; globalisation and global governance; international migration; international finance; international trade and investment.
• Political economy: distributive politics in welfare states; political economy of development. 
• Public policy: business-government relations; executive and bureaucratic politics; public ethics.
• Political theory: the history of modern political thought; multiculturalism, toleration and citizenship; democracy and constitutionalism; contemporary political philosophy.

Research environment

The PhD programme in political science combines rigorous substantive and methodological training with independent research. Compared with similar PhD programmes in Europe, the programme has a particular emphasis on methods training. In addition, the department has a vibrant research environment centred around a series of seminars and institutes. 

Every week you will join academic staff members at the departmental research seminar as well as cluster seminars in specific research areas such as “Comparative Political Economy” and “Conflict & Change”. These seminars will complement your formal training by allowing you to comment on and learn about the research of internal and external presenters. 

PhD students at our department also have their own research seminar in which they present their work and receive feedback from both faculty and the other PhD students. Finally, the department also hosts speaker series through the Policy & Practice seminar series, the Constitution Unit and the Global Governance Institute. 

Full-time

The length of registration for the research degree programme is 3 years with a typical one-year extension.

You are required to register initially for the MPhil degree with the expectation of transfer to PhD after successful completion of an upgrade up to 14 months after initial registration. Upon successful completion of your approved period of registration, you may register as a completing research student (CRS) while you write up your thesis.

In your first year, you will take non-credit bearing core modules that contribute to the research methods sequence. For students undertaking empirical political science research, the core modules are one qualitative methods course and Introduction to Quantitative Methods as well as Advanced Quantitative Methods (depending on prior statistical training). Students are also expected to take an additional quantitative course in their second year. Students undertaking research in political theory take the political theory methods seminar. In addition, students attend a general research design course that is only open to first year political science PhDs and is co-taught by two members of the faculty. 

You will be required to complete two pieces of assessed work during the first year: one focusing on the existing theoretical literature in your area of study and the other on the methodological approach you plan to adopt in your project.

In years 2,3, and 4 you will continue writing your thesis. You are encouraged to present completed research at internal and external seminars and conferences, with the funding often provided by the department or other funding bodies, see additional costs for more information. You may also take additional, non-credit bearing modules and courses where appropriate (e.g. ESRC Summer School, modules offered by other departments). Progress is monitored through a combination of supervisory meetings and presentations at the PhD Research Seminar. 

After three years, you may apply for additional 12 months (full time) to finish writing up your thesis. During this period, you will be registered as Completing Research Status (CRS). There are no student fees for CRS but you will continue to have full access to UCL facilities and services during this time. 

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.